Antique mind machines
Brainwave entrainment has evolved a lot since its inception.
The very first mind machine was arguably created by the French psychologist Pierre Janet in the late 19th century. It was little more than a wheel with spokes that rotated in front of a lantern. Yet, it seemed to be immensely helpful in calming his mentally ill and otherwise hysterical patients.
One of the first commercially available mind machines came some time later in the late 1950’s. Its construction was inspired by reports from radar operators aboard submarines, who found themselves falling into deep, relaxed, trance-like states after staring at flickering radar screens for extended periods. Dr. Sidney Schneider was one of the researchers to analyze these effects, and he went on to create the “Brain Wave Synchronizer”, a 15-pound metal suitcase with a giant lightbulb and knobs for frequency control.
Larry Minikes, of A/V Stim, contacted me last week after having found an original Brain Wave Synchronizer unit. He was kind enough to take some pictures for us. These are the first pictures of this unit available on the internet.
^ Brain Wave Synchronizer compared to a modern mind machine. Today’s audio/visual devices can literally fit in the lid of the Brain Wave Synchronizer.
^ Close up of the frequency control knobs.
Despite being very large and clunky, the Brainwave Synchronizer enjoyed a lot of success. It was tested on over 2,500 patients between 1957 and 1958. Schneider initially intended to use it as an aide to hypnosis - kind of an advanced version of the stereotypical “hypnotic spiral”.
It was also involved in some of the first clinical research into brainwave entrainment:
Dr. William Kroger used it to help 200 female subjects enter hypnosis to assist in childbirth at Chicago’s Edgewater Hospital.
In 1963, Dr. M.S. Sadove of the University of Illinois, reported a 90% success rate at reducing anesthesia during surgery while using this device.
Bernard Margolis used it in the first brainwave entrainment dental study in 1966, which reported less need for anesthesia, less bleeding, and less fear and anxiety.
This matches the reports we get today from doctors using our software.
Then and Now
Because the Brain Wave Synchronizer used a light bulb instead of the LED-based glasses we enjoy today, this device had the potential to unintentionally affect those around the intended subject. In 1963, Schneider demonstrated his device in front of an audience and C. Lawerenz of Hypnosis Quarterly. Lawerenz later reported that not only did the subject enter a relaxed trance, but so did the first row of the audience!
It is demonstrations like this that prompted the creation of the strobe lights we see used so often in rock concerts and dance clubs today. The frequencies used in those cases are usually not fast enough to do what the Brain Wave Synchronizer did, but it is interesting to observe that mind machines are the grandparents of strobe lights used all over the world.
Another way this field has evolved: Price. Here is an old advertisement for the Brain Wave Synchronizer:
498 dollars! Given inflation since the early 1960’s, that would be well over $3000 today!
These days brainwave entrainment devices range from $100-$600. You can even use your computer as the stimulator. We’ve come a long way. Still, with the advancements coming in the near future, I can easily see existing mind machines becoming as antique and charming as this one.
Written by admin on December 17th, 2007 with
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